Pro-Life, Pro-Choice
Shared Values in the Abortion Debate
Here’s an idea: let’s delete the word “abortion” from our vocabulary so as to start a more civilized conversation about how to deal with unwanted pregnancy. Both sides of the debate can begin by acknowledging areas of shared values. Everyone (except for the extremists on both sides) can agree, for example, that more expansive, affordable support services would help needy mothers to stay in school, continue working, etc., while they raised their children. That, and pro-choice feminists can surely appreciate the miracle and wonder that is early fetal life, even as they advocate for a woman’s right to make decisions about her body.
In Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Bertha Alvarez Manninen delicately explores the ethics of abortion, believing that a majority of men and women of all ages are tired of the traditional abortion rhetoric. An associate professor of philosophy at Arizona State University, she teaches on abortion ethics and champions the middle ground, stressing to her students (and readers) that “pro-choice is not synonymous with pro-abortion.” She also mulls the elephant in the room for many on the pro-choice side. Namely, is there such a thing as irresponsible pregnancy, and do some women choose abortion for trivial reasons?
Heady, challenging stuff, to be sure, but her book is an important step in moving the conversation along.
Reviewed by
Matt Sutherland
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
